Steve Hutchinson Retires From NFL

Steve Hutchinson announced his retirement on Tuesday following 12 seasons in the National Football League with the Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings, and Tennessee Titans.

The Titans left guard decided to call it quits on his career after failing to recover sufficiently from a knee injury that limited him to 12 games last season.

The seven-time Pro Bowl lineman confirmed his decision to hang up his cleats on Tuesday. “Retiring today after a great run in the NFL. I want to thank the Seahawks, Vikings, Titans and their fans for the opportunity,” he wrote on Twitter.

Hutchinson was a four-year starter at the University of Michigan and helped lead the Wolverines to the national championship in 1997.

He was named an All-American in his final season in Ann Arbor and was taken by the Seattle Seahawks with the 17th pick in the first round.

Hutchinson spent four fruitful seasons in Seattle before moving to Minnesota where he would cement his place as one of the best linemen of his generation.

He made the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons with the Vikings and helped pave the way for Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson.

Hutchinson left Minnesota in 2011 and joined the Tennessee Titans where he appeared in 12 games. He was placed on injury reserve December 5, 2012 after tweaking his knee in the 24-10 setback to the Houston Texans. He had two years remaining on the three-year deal he signed with Tennessee in March.

Steve Hutchinson made Seattle’s 35th Anniversary Team and was named one of the 50 greatest Vikings of all time.